Last Epoch DPS Math: Scaling, Crit Chance, and Skill Synergies

Damage per second (DPS) in Last Epoch is the measure of how efficiently your build converts stats into real damage. But DPS is not just a tooltip number. It’s built from scaling layers, crit mechanics, and skill synergies working together.

Learning the math helps you optimize gear, passive trees, and skill nodes without wasting resources. Want to test your ranged gear? Try the OSRS DPS Calculator for fast calculations.

What DPS Means in Last Epoch

Your DPS is influenced by several components:

• Base Skill Damage – foundation value per ability.
• Added Flat Damage – from weapons, passives, or idols.
• Increased Damage – additive bonuses.
• More Damage – multiplicative effects from nodes and buffs.
• Critical Strikes – chance and multiplier.
• Added Damage Effectiveness (ADE) – how much flat damage a skill actually benefits from.

To experiment with these numbers, check the Last Epoch Effective Strength Calculator.

Scaling: Flat vs Increased vs More

Flat Damage

Best early on, especially with high ADE skills.

Increased Damage

Stacks additively across all sources.

More Damage

Multiplies everything else and provides the biggest spikes.

Example:

• Base + Flat = 250 damage
• Increased = +200%
• More multiplier = ×2

Result = (250 × 3) × 2 = 1,500 per hit (before crits)

Critical Strike Math

Crit scaling is one of the most reliable late-game multipliers.

• Crit Chance → how often you crit.
• Crit Multiplier → how much harder crits hit.

Example:

• 1,000 base hit
• 50% crit chance
• 250% crit multiplier

= (0.5 × 1,000) + (0.5 × 2,500) = 1,750 average DPS.

👉 For accuracy testing on crit builds, use the Last Epoch Hit Chance Tool.

Skill Synergies

Choosing synergistic skills is often more impactful than flat stats.

• Lightning Blast + Static Orb – chains + shock for amplified lightning DPS.
• Warpath + Bleed Nodes – high frequency hits stacking bleed.
• Smite + Holy Aura – burst combined with elemental buffs.

These synergies create multiplicative scaling layers, not just additive bonuses.

DoT vs Hit-Based Builds

• DoT Builds → scale ailments like bleed, ignite, or poison.
• Hit Builds → focus on crit, attack speed, and burst scaling.

👉 To model long fights, try the Last Epoch Average DPS Calculator. You can review your ranged weapon stats directly through the OSRS Ranged DPS Calculator for better comparison.

Optimization Tips

1. Invest in flat damage early—scales well with ADE.
2. Balance crit chance and multiplier.
3. Prioritize “More” nodes in skill trees.
4. Use ailments like poison or ignite for scaling over time.
5. Test DPS values with planners and calculators instead of tooltips.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between “increased” and “more”?
“Increased” is additive, “More” is multiplicative.

2. How important is crit scaling?
Very—crit adds exponential DPS growth once chance and multiplier are balanced.

3. What does ADE mean?
Added Damage Effectiveness tells you how much flat damage a skill benefits from.

4. Are DoTs viable?
Yes, ailments like poison and bleed are powerful for long fights.

5. Should I prioritize flat or crit on gear?
Flat for leveling, crit + multipliers for endgame.